Thursday, March 14, 2013

How to : Consolidate Photos from Several Cameras using Dropbox

Update 4/21/2016 : This solution using Dropbox is being superseded by a new process using Google Photos. See the updated How-to.

In the Family Tech column published March 14, 2013 we discuss how several family members using their camera phones might take pictures of the same event, and how the family might want to consolidate those photos into one place.

For example, a family of four might go on vacation. Both parents, and both teenage children, have smart phones and are taking photos during the entire vacation.

How can we easily get all of these photos into one place so we can share them as a family, then publish them to friends and family and finally back them up for long term safe keeping?

There are any number of methods, but the one outlined in the column has each person creating their own free Dropbox account.

Be sure to test this setup on your system extensively to be sure it works for you and does not put your photos at risk. Be sure alsoto use this method with another backup system to insure the safety of your photos.

The entire process is outlined here step-by-step :

1. Create Dropbox accounts for each member of the family

a. Go to the dropbox.com website
(if you use this link, the size of your box should be 2 gigabytes + 256 megabytes bonus)

b. Create a new account for primary user.
Be sure to record the email address and password you use to create the account.

c. Be sure to log out of Dropbox when you are done creating the account.

d. For every other member of the family, repeat steps a, b & c.

2. Create a shared folder in Dropbox and share it with the other users.

a. Log in to the primary Dropbox account

b. Locate the New Folder icon and click it.

c. A text box appears. Type the name for the new folder in it, "Family Photos"

d. After you press Enter, find the folder "Family Photos" in the list and double click on it.

e. The folder is opened. At the top, find and click on the Share icon.

f. A dialog box appears.

g. Enter in the email addresses for the others in the family, using the email addresses you used to create their Dropbox accounts. When done, click the Share Folder icon.

h. Each person will receive an email from Dropbox saying you have invited them to share this folder.

i. When they click the View Folder button, they will be shown this screen.

Be sure to click the Sign in link near the bottom. The form above is to create a new account.
You already have an account for them.

j. The next screen is a standard log in. Have them go ahead and log in.

Once logged in, they will see the folder "Family Photos" is now in their folder list.

k. Go ahead and log out of Dropbox.

l. Repeat steps h, i, j and k for each person.

3. For each member of the family, install the Dropbox app on their smartphone

It may be by far more convenient to share the Camera Upload folder with each other.1) Rename the Camera Upload folder on all accounts except one.2) Share the last remaining Camera Upload folder with all other family members.3) Move the photos from the remamed folders to the shared “new” Camera Upload folder.4) Delete the renamed, now empty former Camera Upload folders.

By that, every Camera Upload from every account will now instantly be shared (a kind of photo stream). No need to ever manage or move files again.